Hammocks Beach plans should be inspired by dreams

By Mike McHugh

Published: Sunday, June 22, 2014 at 11:31 AM.

On June 16, I stopped biting my tongue. The front-page headline of The Daily News last Monday stated what I had been told months earlier — but about which I had been sworn to secrecy — that a settlement between both parties was imminent involving 290 undeveloped acres that abut Hammocks Beach State Park.

The parcel of wooded and waterfront land outside Swansboro proper at one time provided space for Future Farmers of America and 4-H Club campers.

Local park officials, members of the Friends of the Hammock and Bear Island and immediate neighbors were ecstatic over the news. The land — once owned by the late Dr. William Sharpe, a New York physician, and overseen by a local resident, the late John Hurst — has had its ownership challenged in North Carolina courts for decades.

When Sharpe purchased the swath of land that included this acreage in the early 20th century, his intent was to use the area as a hunting and gaming preserve. As the doctor aged and could no longer endure the rigors of hunting, he offered the land to his friend John Hurst.

Hurst and wife Gertrude appreciated the generous offer but the responsibilities were too great for them to assume. They suggested, and Sharpe agreed, giving the land to the N.C. Teachers’ Association. Sharpe insisted that the land and all activities that take place upon it be for the purpose of education. The Hursts had several children who became teachers in the local public schools.

Over time, portions of the tract were sold off. What remains is an unspoiled, natural habitat encompassing brackish saltwater shorelines from Queens Creek to the Intracoastal Waterway to maritime forests. It provides food and shelter to a variety of mammals both large and small, as well birds of many colors, with reptiles and amphibians slithering beneath the canopy of loblolly pines and hardwood trees.

As reported in The Daily News, there is much work to be done. The price tag for the purchase of the land is approximately $10 million, according to Carol Tingley, acting director of the state Division of Parks and Recreation.

On June 16, I stopped biting my tongue. The front-page headline of The Daily News last Monday stated what I had been told months earlier — but about which I had been sworn to secrecy — that a settlement between both parties was imminent involving 290 undeveloped acres that abut Hammocks Beach State Park.

The parcel of wooded and waterfront land outside Swansboro proper at one time provided space for Future Farmers of America and 4-H Club campers.

Local park officials, members of the Friends of the Hammock and Bear Island and immediate neighbors were ecstatic over the news. The land — once owned by the late Dr. William Sharpe, a New York physician, and overseen by a local resident, the late John Hurst — has had its ownership challenged in North Carolina courts for decades.

When Sharpe purchased the swath of land that included this acreage in the early 20th century, his intent was to use the area as a hunting and gaming preserve. As the doctor aged and could no longer endure the rigors of hunting, he offered the land to his friend John Hurst.

Hurst and wife Gertrude appreciated the generous offer but the responsibilities were too great for them to assume. They suggested, and Sharpe agreed, giving the land to the N.C. Teachers’ Association. Sharpe insisted that the land and all activities that take place upon it be for the purpose of education. The Hursts had several children who became teachers in the local public schools.

Over time, portions of the tract were sold off. What remains is an unspoiled, natural habitat encompassing brackish saltwater shorelines from Queens Creek to the Intracoastal Waterway to maritime forests. It provides food and shelter to a variety of mammals both large and small, as well birds of many colors, with reptiles and amphibians slithering beneath the canopy of loblolly pines and hardwood trees.

As reported in The Daily News, there is much work to be done. The price tag for the purchase of the land is approximately $10 million, according to Carol Tingley, acting director of the state Division of Parks and Recreation.

Tingley stated that the agreement that allows the state to acquire the property “is a milestone” but she was quick to add: “It will still be a while before it happens, but this is a big step and we’re thrilled to have this opportunity, and we’re looking forward to incorporating the property into Hammocks Beach State Park for the benefit of the public.”

So now the fun part begins. Hammocks Beach State Park Superintendent Paul Donnelly, while thrilled by the decision, told me it will sink in when “I’m marking boundary lines of the newly acquired acreage.”

There’s a saying in sales: “Now that you’ve reeled in the big catch what are you going to do with it?”

Well, at the risk of putting the proverbial cart far out in front of the horse, allow me to be the first to suggest what I feel would be an appropriate use for this land. Don’t worry, you’ll have your chance in a more official capacity voice your opinion. According to Tingley’s comments in the story, there will be “a planning process with public input will be important in developing uses for the property once the acquisition is finalized.”

I believe this project should be drawn up on such a grand scale that, once completed, the park will be the jewel of the N.C. Parks and Recreation Division and will draw Carolina residents as well Americans from the other 49 states to our community to see what can be achieved by people dedicated to preserving our natural environment and utilizing 21st-Century technology.

I envision a lodge serving many purposes, including an overnight chalet for guests as well as an impressive visitor and interpretation center. The structure would be built with timber grown on the property and situated on the bluffs overlooking Queens Creek with a front porch constructed on the scale of the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Mich. That lakeside porch measures 660 feet and is believed to be the world’s largest. I believe the design should incorporate solar panels to harness the sun’s rays and convert them to electricity to power the operation. Rainwater would be captured to be used for irrigation of the indigenous plants and for streams and waterfalls created for aesthetic and educational purposes.

Oyster gardens would line the shoreline, acting as natural filters to bring more clarity to the water. Camp sites, hiking trails, boat ramps and an equestrian center will provide ways for visitors to enjoy the property and nearby waterways.

A project of this importance and magnitude should bring together the brightest and innovative minds from our state’s universities and colleges. Recognizing the economic impact a park of this size commands, North Carolina businesses should join the park’s Friends group and add needed capital to make this potential treasure the shining park on the hill — or in this case, the bluff.

Swansboro resident Mike McHugh is an advertising account executive with The Daily News. Readers can email him at: mike.mchugh@jdnews.com.